Na Alii outlast Golden Hawks in OIA opener

Aiea's Fabian Bautista was one of many players playing both sides of the ball in Friday night's win over Nanakuli. The senior receiver/defensive back broke open for a 40-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and later had a red zone takeaway to start the fourth quarter. Sylvia Lee | SL

AIEA — Small in numbers but big in heart; that was the theme for Friday night's Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I regular season opener between host Aiea and visiting Nanakuli as Na Alii outlasted the Golden Hawks, 35-27, in a down-to-the-wire matchup that featured just 21 players suited up for the home team and 26 for the visitors.

Nursing an Aiea 35-13 fourth quarter lead following LJ Vongsy's 33-yard interception return for a score, Nanakuli clawed its way back with a pair of one-yard touchdown runs from Charles Hauhio and Aalona Aleka three minutes and 22 seconds apart to make it a one-score game with just over a minute remaining.

Na Alii recovered the Golden Hawks' onside kick attempt, and a few plays later while facing third-and-seven, Kayson Castillo's throw to Dylan Soberano fell short incomplete to stop the clock, giving Nanakuli the opportunity to have the ball back one more time.

Starting at their own 35 yard line, Golden Hawks quarterback Hauhio was sacked for a 10-yard loss by freshman Chaysen Lopez. On the next play, Hauhio hit Gavin Vea-Flint on a 20-yard strike for a first down to stop the clock just enough for one final play, but Hauhio was sacked again, this time by Jonathan Laurienzo.

"I think every game is going to be like this," Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "Our kids can believe. If you look at our shirts, everything is about believing, believing in each other. It's getting there, but we still got a long ways to go."

While already having a lack of depth, as well as having to replace two starters due to breaking team rules prior to the game, injuries was another big concern after having to end last week's non-league matchup against Kaiser in a draw to prevent further damage.

"We had four guys cramping up. I tell the kids, ‘You guys got to hydrate all week and in school.' Like today was humid so they got a whole day of school. I tell them, ‘Hydrate every time you pass a water fountain,' but they don't like the water (from the fountains)," Say said.

Two players who were held out of last week's contest were seniors Babu Capanang and Vongsy, who both made big contributions on the field starting with Capanang's 78-yard opening kickoff return for a score.

Aiea successfully recovered its onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff and quickly followed with a 40-yard score through the air from Castillo to Fabian Bautista.

Starting with good field position, Nanakuli responded with a 12-play drive that was capped by Hauhio's first of two rushing touchdowns on the evening.

"I give their quarterback credit. He took a beating and he stood there and he came back in and he threw the ball," Say said of Hauhio, who stayed on the sideline for a single four-play series at the start of the second quarter.

The senior QB finished 13-of-31 passing for 91 yards with one touchdown but three interceptions. He also added 50 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Backfield mate Aleka carried the ball 27 times for 150 yards with a score.

For Aiea, Castillo finished 22 of 34 for 321 yards and two scores but threw three interceptions as well.

Zacharia Kalahiki-Basque followed last week's 10-reception, 141-yard performance with 122 yards on five catches with one TD.

Aiea (1-0 OIA) travels across Moanalua Freeway to take on Na Menehune (1-0 OIA) next Friday night while Nanakuli (0-1 OIA) returns home to host Damien (1-0 ILH) on Saturday.

Reach Spencer Honda at [email protected].